Jacksonville Jaguars working again Tank Bigsby, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photograph/Gary McCullough)
Winless no extra.
In Jacksonville’s thrilling 37-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the staff’s first win of the season, Jaguars working again Tank Bigsby delivered one of many high performances in Week 5 of the NFL season.
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Bigsby rushed for 101 yards on 13 carries on a day that included his first two touchdowns of the season. The primary got here on a 19-yard rush up the middle within the third quarter, powering by means of the Colts’ defensive secondary to place the Jags up 10.
CARTAVIOUS ‼️@tank_bigsby | #INDvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/G19bb1xKNC
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 6, 2024
Bigsby’s second rating got here on a 65-yard scamper with 5:09 remaining within the sport to present Jacksonville a seemingly insurmountable 34-20 lead.
Bigsby. Financial institution. Bang.@tank_bigsby | #INDvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/Ip8aFfmQaa
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 6, 2024
Extremely, the Colts the rallied to tie the competition earlier than Jaguars kicker Cam Little’s game-winning 49-yard field goal within the remaining minute.
First NFL game-winner ✅#Jaguars Okay Cam Little boots a 49-yd discipline purpose that seals the deal for Jacksonville! pic.twitter.com/jNMVwTBnAc
— Kicker Replace (@kickerupdate) October 6, 2024
Bigsby’s massive day on the bottom gave him a brand new profession excessive in speeding yards (his previous best was 90, set only one week in the past towards the Houston Texans), and he’s now Jacksonville’s leading rusher in 2024 regardless of 19 fewer carries than starter Travis Etienne.
The second-year man out of Auburn is aware of his efficiency on Sunday, and to date this fall, has finally been a present from the Lord.
“First I simply wish to begin by thanking God for this chance,” the 23-year-old second-year professional stated during his postgame media availability, whereas sporting a necklace with a number of crosses. “And thank my teammates for being collectively — taking part in collectively. The sky is the restrict if you hold God first and you reside the precise means.”
He continued later: “I’m very blessed to be right here and blessed for this chance.”
When requested about his enchancment from his rookie season, Bigsby once more credited God.
“I really feel like I’m taking part in with a number of confidence, and that begins with my religion,” he stated. “It begins with religion. I obtained a number of religion in God and my means in working. I really feel like if I put the work in, He’ll deal with the remaining. And I simply lay it in His fingers. So I’ve a number of religion and a number of confidence.”
Bigsby struggled at occasions in his rookie season, averaging 2.6 yards per carry and fumbling twice in 50 makes an attempt a 12 months in the past. Each elements have improved in 2024. Through five games, Bigsby has gained a median of 8.03 yards per try (the highest in the NFL for a participant with greater than 23 makes an attempt) and he recovered his solely fumble (which got here in the long run zone on his first TD run Sunday).
“I discovered from final 12 months,” Bigsby said in August, according to the Florida Times-Union. “I simply thank God for being right here and giving me this chance of a lifetime.”
As a consequence of numerous different unlucky bounces of the ball as a rookie, jokes about Bigsby’s incapability to hold onto the ball started to swirl on social media final season. Bigsby heard the noise, however he discovered his refuge and energy in God.
“Final 12 months was form of brutal,” he stated in August. “You don’t actually anticipate it for doing one thing you like. I at all times look to God … at all times hold my pleasure and I at all times hold my smile. I at all times saved who I used to be as a result of I do know ultimately He was going to tug me out of it.”
Bigsby additionally seeks to share his religion on social media. He writes in his Instagram bio, “Jesus be4 YOU. Stroll with religion. THANKFUL.”
Bigsby’s perseverance in religion, even whereas enduring on-field struggles and off-field criticism a 12 months in the past, has him poised to proceed his breakout season in 2024. For him, nonetheless, he’s targeted not on himself however on serving to the Jaguars get win No. 2 after they tackle the Chicago Bears (3-2) in London on Sunday (9:30 a.m. ET).
“There’s much more on the market that we’re gonna watch on movie,” Bigsby stated after Sunday’s sport, “and attempt to go to London and, God prepared, get one other one.”
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